Mystery, cults, ideologies and religious movements… These words often conjure up powerful images of the unknown and the supernatural. The manifestations of various religions around the world have led to radically different perspectives on life and humanity. Some religions like Christianity, Islam and Hinduism have progressed by leaps and bounds in the last few centuries while some religions have remained relatively unknown behind a veil of secrecy, intrigue and mysticism.

Yoruba – Orisha with the Hidden Divinity

Other than historians and devout followers, few may be familiar with the terms Orisha and Yoruba. Yoruba is a religion that has a widespread reach today. The essence of its spiritual experience lies in seven Orishas. Orishas are believed to be guardian spirits who take care of mankind when it is at its most vulnerable. Similar to more popular notions of an almighty creator or God, the Lukumi (also known as Lucumi) believe in a higher power; a more stable state of God called the Olodumare. The religion preaches that every human and every soul in this world has a guardian spirit or Orisha, who looks after the person. Orisha, or the guarding spirits, are thought to assume natural forms yet still protect mankind in a divine manner.

Yoruba has grown substantially and is known by different names around the world. In Cuba, its followers call it Lukumi. A more contemporary name for the religion is Santeria. The history of this religion dates back to the origin of the New World. It was during this time that the island currently known as Cuba, was invaded by the African slaves. The people who follow this cult speak Yoruba and were originally from western Africa. There were many sub-religions that believed in similar ideologies. It was only after the African slaves and other ethnic religious groups of Africa came together that Lukumi culture evolved. The mingling and osmosis of various Roman Catholic trends is also called ‘Syncretism’. Several principles of Roman Catholicism’s style of preaching and worship are now incorporated and many know La Regla De Ocha (Lukumi) as Santeria. Santeria is a name that has taken shape more recently.

How were Christian ideals introduced into the mix?

History suggests that the slaves in Cuba were not given the freedom to practice and follow the religion of their choice. They were forced to subscribe to Catholicism to survive. This is how the African slave community culture was influenced by Catholicism. These Cuban slaves were granted permission to join societies named Cabildos – saint-specific societies. Those who would later become Lukumi priests were known as ‘Santeros’ at the time. However, the practice of worshipping saints in Lukumi is strongly frowned upon.

Lukumi always remained clandestine because it was a religion of the slaves and open worshipping was strictly forbidden. There were many principles of the Yoruba religion that clashed with Christianity. For this reason, the more dominant forms of Christianity sought to suppress any form of Yoruba. In 1993, Lukumi religious leaders fought to seek recognition under the law and were able to break free from the suppression of the more mainstream religions. Since this victory, Lukumi is being officially practiced in the United States as well as the rest of the world.

Belief galore

Lukumi teaches the idea of mutual respect for all religions and cultures. Lukumi followers believe strongly in God, whom they know as Olodumare. It’s their belief that God will always prevail over the devil and that every person should endeavor to improve with each passing day. There are several shrines and altars where the followers can go and display their devotion. Specific worship events are typically group activities. However, there are no specific locations and followers often meet in a variety of settings. Similarly to Catholicism, there is a scripture that has been passed down through generations of followers. These scriptures include the Odu Ifa and the parables that deal with moralities of life – the Patakis.

Yoruba can be considered to be mono-theistic. The ideology is quite modern and hence, this religion is quite different than its previous forms. Part of the reason for this is its dynamic nature and the willingness to accept new ideas. The various Orisha pantheons include Olokun, Shango, Oshun, Oko, and Oya. Each of these pantheons corresponds to an aspect of human life such as love, hate, or youth. Gender roles form an important part of Lukumi. Both males and females are expected to wear traditional garb. Followers often sing and dance to the Oriki hymns that speak of Lukumi’s strong spiritual bonds. Anyone is eligible for the conversion process and it is not necessary to be a catholic prior to accepting Lukumi.

Facts and Figures

It is estimated that anywhere between 15 million and 40 million people are active followers of Lukumi. The religion is heavily focused on community and is rarely practiced in isolation. Often relying on one another for various spiritual needs, many followers often specialize in a trade such as cloth making, altar building and mask making. People who are interested in becoming Yoruba followers are advised to read two texts – John Mason’s Four New World Rituals and Tobe Melora’s Finding Soul on the Path to the Orisha.

This intriguing and richly cultural religion is colorful and highly liberal. By welcoming new trends with open arms, the recent converts can feel readily accepted into the community of worshippers. Focusing on the struggles of one’s journey through life, Yoruba encourages people to hold a positive outlook on the future and look forward to tomorrow. Yoruba addresses a vast array of spiritual issues for its followers and attempts to instill a deep level of personal satisfaction. Because of this, it stands to be a globally accepted religion with a high potential for growth.